Signal and display lamp



' Sept. 23, 1924. 3,5092% R. F. GEORGE SIGNALAND DISPLAY LAMP Filed Feb. 14, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ross 1; Geor Sept. 23

R. F. GEORGE SIGNAL AND DISPLAY LAMP Filed Feb. 14, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

jH-UOHRW ROSS @evry Sept. '23, me.

SS 1. GEORGE, 0F SEATTLE, WASGTON.

SIGNAL Ann DISPLAY Application filed February 14. 1922. Serial No. 536,488.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, Ross F. GEORGE, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the city of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal and Display Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combined signal and display lamp such, foninstance, as are employed as the tail light in parking light of an automobile. While my lamp is pew culiarly adapted for such use, I do not desire to be limited to this use only, for it may be used to mark a dangerous turn in a roadway or for various other purposes.

It is an object of my invention to provide a lamp of the character described which has a light source therein, said light source being visible in two directions and having also means for reflecting back light which enters it from an outside source.

A further object is the provision of means for holding and illuminating a display sign or card in connection with a signal lamp.

A further object is the provision of a' lamp-having a display card or late secured thereto, together with means or reflecting the light from the source within the lamp upon the display card.

A further object is the provision of a reflector together with a transparent pane positioned in front of the reflector, the pane being of two or more different colors and the reflector being so arranged to reflect light which enters through one color out through another.

My invention comprises those novel parts and combinations thereof which are shown in the accompanying drawings, described in the specification, and particularly defined by the claims terminating the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown my invention in forms which are now preferred by me.

'Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my lamp.

Figure 2 is an axial longitudinal section therethrough. V

Figure 3 is a transverse section there through taken on the planeof the light discharge slots.

Figure 1 is an elevation and Figure 5 is a lon itudinal axial section through a modified rin.

The casing 1 has two opposite signal apertures 10 and 11. These are closed by transparent panes or, if desired, lenses may be substituted for these panes. I have shown the aperture 10 as closed by a lens 9 and the aperture 11 as closed by a pane 8. A light source 2, consisting ordinarily of an electric light bulb, is suitably supported within the casing land between the two apertures 10 an 11.

Within the casing 1, I may support an inner casing 3 which is arranged to act as a reflector for light entering through the pane 8, to return it through the same pane. As

shown herein the, portion of the casing 3 farthest from the pane 8 terminates in a truncated cone'3O which is open to permit discharge of light from the bulb 2 through the lens 9." i

The pane 8 is provided with difierently colored areas, in the form shown in Figure red. Light enteringthrough the ring 82 30 will be reflected from the casing 3 and will come out through the circle 81, red. Light entering through the circle 81- or the ring 83 will naturally be reflected back red. In

addition, all light from the bulb2 will come 85 out red except that. which passes through the ring 82, and this is so positioned that it is not seen ordinarily by an approaching observer. i

I provide the casing 1 with means for detachably securing a display plate thereto.

.This plate may be for the purpose of supf porting the license tag, for illuminating a plate containing the name of the city of which the driver is a resident, or for other purposes. I have shown a groove 17 which is crimped around the periphery of the casing 1- and into this groove the edge of a plate 4, which has been cut out to fit about the casing 1, is received. The outer casing 1 has peripheral slots 18 cut out adjacent the plate 4 and the metal 19which represents the area of the slot may be convenien'tly bent outwardly therefrom to form a reflector for light coming from the source we 2, or a separate reflector may be provided adjacent the slot 18. The inner casing 3 is likewise provided with peripheral slots 38. The metal 39" in this case may be removed or bent upward so' that it does not inter- 11 fere with the passage of light rays. The

casing is shown in the accompanying drawings as, having an upper and a lower slot 18, the upper slot illuminating the name of ported upon the plate 4. By the means thus. described I provide a positive illumination of the plate 4 and license plate 5 and do not depend upon light passing through the slots and falling directly upon the plate, for the angle is such that very little light is thrown upon the. plate unless it is reflected. f

In Figures 4 and 5 I have'shown a slightly modified form of the device. The reflector'31 in this case is more nearly arabolic, so that light fromithe bulb 2 will e reflected there from and outward through the pane 8. The pane 8 in this case has the differently colored areas-differently arranged. The central circle 84 is dropped to intercept whatcorresponds to the ring 85, which then takes the shape of a crescent. Thus all light issuing from the crescent 85 is directed upward above the level of the eye of an approaching observer and the signal will at all times appear red whether 'viewed by reflected light or h light emanating from the bulb 2.

I have shown the lamp as supported upon a standard 6 which in turn is supported fron the fender 7 of an automobile. It is evident that the manner of mounting or controlling the light isimmaterial, as is the use to which the amp is put. It is ordinarily intended for use as a parking light, light from the source 2 passing through the lens 9 to warn a driver approaching from ahead,

and both direct lig t from the bulb 2 and reflected lightfrom the headlights of an approaching car warning a driver approaching fromthe rear. If accidentally or intentionally the bulb 2 is turned off, reflected light alone will warn a driver approaching from the rear.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. A signal lamp casing having a peripheral slot for escape of light, with the metal representing the slot area bent outward to form a reflector for such escaping light, the

casing having a peripheral groove paralleling said slot and a display plate having an edge seating in said groove.

2. A signal light comprising an outer casing having opposite signal apertures and peripheral slots therebetween, an inner casing'having apertures and slots registering with those of the outer casing, a light posi' tioned between the two signal apertures Within the inner casing, flanges formed of the material cut to form theslots of the outer casing upstanding therefrom, to reflect light escapmg through said apertures, and means for supporting an exterior sign upon the outer casing in position to be illuminated by such reflected light. 1 v 3. A signal comprising a casing having a View opening and a peripherally extending opening for esca e of light, andhaving within itself a reflecting surface, a periph eral groove in the casing parallelingsaid peripherally extending opening, a light positioned within said casing to be'reflected therefrom through the view opening and to shine through said peripherally extending openings, and a display plate having an edge seating in said groove.

4. A signal comprising a casing having two opposite view openings and peripherally extending opening, said casing having exteriorly disposed means, for supporting an object adjacent said peripherally extending opening at all points, to be'illumi-. nated by light shining therethrough.

Signed at Seattle, King County,Washington this 6th day of February 1922.

. ROSS F. GEORGE.

a periph erally extending opening for escape of light, 

